Eviction threat on Leeds families

James Reed, Political Reporter

HUNDREds of families in Leeds have faced the threat of eviction over the last year, new figures show.

In the last year, landlords or mortgage lenders have lodged more than 2,000 possession claims against properties in the city which, if granted, would give them the right to take the property back from the residents.

The figures from respected housing campaign group Shelter show one in every 117 rented or mortgaged houses in Leeds has been the subject of a possession claim in the last 12 months.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: “46 households at risk of losing their home every day is 46 too many.

“Each one of these will have had their lives turned upside down by this experience, as they faced seeing their home, the foundation of their life, ripped away from underneath them.

“Tragically we are seeing more and more people coming to us for help, people who have been struggling to make ends meet and then just one change of circumstances has pushed them spiralling towards homelessness.”

Shelter said the figures showed that many familes’ finances had been stretched to breaking point in recent years and one problem, such as illness or the loss of a job, could be enough to trigger a threat to their home.

The charity said it had seen the number of people calling with problems with rent arrears double since 2011 while the number asking for help over mortgage difficulties had increased by a fifth.

In historic terms, the number of homes repossessed in the economic downturn was relatively low with economic commentators suggesting low interest rates have protected many households from problems.

Most economic commentators expect interest rates to start rising early next year.

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